Serum Bicarbonate Concentration and Cognitive Function in Hypertensive Adults

Abstract

In a large cohort of hypertensive adults, higher serum bicarbonate levels were independently associated with better global cognitive and executive performance. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01206062).

Dietary Influence on Body Fluid Acid-Base and Volume Balance: The Deleterious “Norm” Furthers and Cloaks Subclinical Pathophysiology

“…Diminished serum IGF-1 in patients with renal failure has been linked to a higher rate of mortality [ 46 ]. In addition, acidosis has been linked to altered insulin sensitivity [ 47 ], skeletal demineralization, nephrolithiasis, and, in hypertensive adults, cognitive impairment [ 48 ]. These observations further emphasize the critical role of active kidney compensation to defend the systemic acid-base balance in the setting of the acidogenic diet.…”

The Role of Bicarbonate in Cognition

“…A systematic review found that both global cognitive function and language function were particularly impaired in CKD (6). However, this study by Dobre et al (10) found that lower bicarbonate was associated with lower scores on both global and executive function tests, but there was no association seen with language domains or other domains. The exact domains potentially affected by the shared issues of CKD and acidosis are, therefore, still unknown.…”

“…In summary, the study by Dobre et al (10) adds another piece of evidence that acidosis is harmful. In addition to its previously studied associations with mortality, kidney disease progression, and other clinical outcomes, we can now add cognitive impairment to the areas that acidosis likely affects.…”

“…In this analysis of the SPRINT, Dobre et al (10) evaluate the cross-sectional association of serum bicarbonate levels with cognitive function as measured by a battery of tests around global cognitive function, executive function, memory, attention/concentration, and language. They find that lower bicarbonate level is independently associated with lower performance on tests evaluating either global cognitive or executive function.…”

Peripheral Blood Biomarkers Coupled with the Apolipoprotein E4 Genotype are Strongly Associated with Semantic and Episodic Memory Impairments in Elderly Subjects with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Dementia

“…Our results extend those of previous papers reporting that lowered bicarbonate levels may be associated with lower performance on cognitive tests including cognitive or executive impairments. (54,55) For example, in a large cohort of individuals with hypertension, higher serum bicarbonate levels were associated with better global cognitive and executive functioning, but not with memory. (54) The latter authors computed that a decrease of 1 mEq/L in bicarbonate had the same impact on global cognitive functioning as being 4.3 months older.…”